It’s a bird. It’s a plane, no, it is Superman. As a child, I spent a lot of time pretending that I was a superhero. Fighting the evil forces in the world, taking a stand for those who are powerless or voiceless, battling the super-villains, and always triumphing in the end. Like myself, I believe that most people, at one time or another, spent time pretending to be a superhero as a child. Growing up, as much as I wished it was not so, I eventually came to the realization that superheroes do not exist.
As I was ruminating about superheroes and my youth, I was reminded of Sesame Street and one of the sketches that frequently appeared on the show called the “People in Your Neighborhood.” Each sketch would focus on a different individual in the neighborhood and the value they bring to the neighborhood. The sketch would highlight a firefighter one week, a postal worker the next, the butcher, a teacher, and the trash collector, to name a few. The purpose of the sketch was to bring to light the fact that, unbeknownst to most, we are surrounded by everyday heroes. The more I thought about the premise of the show, the more it rang true in my mind. Unsung heroes surround us if we take the time to open our eyes and take a look. This was never more evident than the recent trip I took to visit a few of the migrant camps in Tijuana. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce a few of those unsung heroes.
Border Angels
My trip to visit the migrant camps was in conjunction with the Border Angels’ Caravan of Love, in which needed supplies were taken to three of the 32 migrant camps in Tijuana. Border Angel’s mission is to “promote a culture of love through advocacy, education, by creating a social consciousness, and engaging in direct action to defend the rights of migrants and refugees.” Hugo Castro, one of Border Angels Board member, was our host and guide. Humble and unassuming, Hugo epitomizes what it means to be an unsung hero. A long-time migrant and human rights activist, his convictions and dedication are seen through his actions. Whether it is the Caravan of Love, or Water Drops in the desert for migrants who are making their way through the desert, or immigration services and consultation, naming a few of their programs, He and his co-volunteers choose to put the needs of others first.
They are real superheroes. If you do not believe me, ask any of the migrants they have impacted by giving them a hand up over the past decade.
Rise to Reunite
One of the several non-profits that joined us on the Caravan of Love was Rise to Unite. Speaking to Angeline Chan, one of the volunteer immigrant lawyers for Rise to Reunite, and she shared how her and her co-volunteers donate supplies, contribute money, and host fundraisers for several shelters in Tijuana and for a legal service organization called Al Otro Lado. She went on to share that they are not a 503C; they just a grassroots volunteer group of immigration attorneys and community members who are trying to help reunite families who have been separated at the border.
All in all, my time in Tijuana, eye-opening. Not only to the plight of migrants who are trying to seek asylum but also to the unsung heroes who have chosen not to sit idly by, but to get up, engage and try to make a difference. I wish I had time to tell you about the volunteers I met from Somos Chingonas or the Refugee Health Alliance as I was inspired time and time again to see the people in your neighborhood, the people in my neighborhood, choosing to take a stand and make a difference. Without a doubt, I am once again convinced that superheroes do exist.